Farewell

It has been my privilege to discuss issues in mental health and wellness here for several years and a true pleasure to hear from readers who have found the information helpful in some way.

In recent years, we have seen some advancements in the understanding of mental illness and its treatment. We have learned more about the way the brain works as well as the contribution of genetics and environment in mental health.

Importantly, we have also seen a gradual breaking down of stigma surrounding mental health. It seems now to be less of a taboo –— people are generally more willing to talk openly about mental health struggles and seek help.

We still have a distance to travel in this regard and though I am encouraged to see awareness and acceptance growing, I hope to see it continue in the coming years.

I hope people will view mental health in the same way we do our physical health — as something to be fostered and attended to — not a shameful topic to be pushed into a dark corner.

One in five of us will experience a mental illness at some point, and depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. This is a topic that affects us all in some way.

If you or a loved one struggle with mental health symptoms, seek help. You are not alone.

Effective treatment options exist and can likely help you resume daily functioning and regain quality of life.

You do not need to suffer in silence. Speaking with your doctor is a good place to start.

From there, you can ask for a referral to a mental health specialist with a goal of achieving complete remission of symptoms.

There are good sources of information online and I encourage you to become an advocate for your own mental health. Seek out information from a reputable source with scientific evidence to back it up.

If you’re interested in re-reading any of these columns, they can all be found on my website (www.okanaganclinicaltrials.com).

Comments are pre-moderated to ensure they meet our guidelines. Approval times will vary. Keep it civil, and stay on topic. If you see an inappropriate comment, please use the ‘flag’ feature. Comments are the opinions of the comment writer, not of Castanet. Comments remain open for one day after a story is published and are closed on weekends. Visit Castanet’s Forums to start or join a discussion about this story.

Paul Latimer has over 25 years experience in clinical practice, research, and administration.

After obtaining his medical degree from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, he did psychiatric training at Queen's, Oxford and Temple Universities. After his residency he did a doctorate in medical science at McMaster University where he was also a Medical Research Council of Canada Scholar.

Since 1983 he has been practicing psychiatry in Kelowna, BC, where he has held many administrative positions and conducted numerous clinical trials.

He has published many scientific papers and one book on the psychophysiology of the functional bowel disorders.

He is an avid photographer, skier and outdoorsman.

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/oktrials

Follow us on Twitter: @OCT_ca

The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.